All Chapters of Blinded Love : Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

The masquerade gala was in full, dazzling swing. Champagne fountains bubbled beside ice sculptures, string quartets echoed through the vaulted ceilings, and silent auctions for multi-million-dollar artwork were drawing eager crowds of global elites.Julian waded through the ballroom, his eyes hungrily scanning the room for the breathtaking woman in the burgundy gown he’d cornered in the hallway. But as he rounded a marble pillar, a tall figure in a sweeping silver gown stepped directly into his path."Julian?"Julian’s blood ran cold beneath his tuxedo. Beatrice.Smoothing his features instantly, Julian caught her by the waist and gently guided her away from the crowded floor toward a quiet alcove near the balcony doors. "Beatrice, my darling," he purred, kissing both of her cheeks with practiced charm. "You look radiant tonight. Forgive me, I literally just stepped into the venue after an exhausting final round of investor calls."Beatrice beamed, leaning into his touch, completely f

The master suite was deathly quiet, save for the soft, steady rhythm of Avery’s breathing.Damien sat on the edge of the mattress, systematically doing aftercare for his sleeping wife. With practiced, gentle hands, he unzipped the heavy sequined gown, carefully sliding it off her shoulders without disturbing her sleep. He wiped away the lingering traces of makeup from her soft skin with a damp velvet cloth and dressed her in a silk nightgown. Tucking her beneath the duvet, he brushed a dark curl from her forehead and stared down at her face, letting the full weight of her drunken confession sink into his chest.She loved him. Not the Kingsley empire, not the fortune. Him.Walking over to his private study desk, Damien pulled up the classified dossier Marcus had delivered earlier. Silver eyes scanned the dense digital file on Naomi Hamilton and her late daughter, Sienna Hamilton.The report was exhaustive. It revealed the sheer scale of Naomi and Sienna’s past affluent status, prominen

The air in the study turned instantly to ice.Avery froze. Her breath caught in her throat, her chest seizing as the words hung suspended between them. Naomi Hamilton. Avery Vance. "I... I..." Avery stuttered, her voice barely a thread. Blood rushed to her ears, a deafening ring drowning out the faint hum of the city below. Panic, sharp and suffocating, clawed at her throat. Damien didn't move. A slow, dangerous grin spread across his sharp features, dark and utterly mesmerized by her sheer terror."H-How... how do you know those names?" she managed to whisper, her fingers digging so hard into the edge of his mahogany desk that her knuckles turned white. Damien leaned forward, resting his forearms on the polished wood, his dark glasses obscuring his eyes, though she could feel the weight of his gaze pinning her to the floor. "I know everything that happens under my roof, my sweet," he rumbled softly, his tone laced with a lethal calm. "And right now, you are going to explain every sin

The sleek black Maybach glided past the wrought-iron gates of the Vance estate in Greenwich, its headlights cutting through the dark, manicured driveway.Inside the passenger cabin, Avery felt her pulse thrumming against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her hands were folded tightly in her lap, her knuckles white. This was the first time she was seeing her father and stepmother since the wedding, and even with Damien by her side, stepping back into the house that had been her prison sent a cold, familiar dread sinking into her stomach.A heavy, warm hand covered hers.Avery turned her head. Damien sat beside her, impeccably tailored in a charcoal suit, wearing his dark, customized glasses. He squeezed her hand softly, his thumb gently caressing her knuckles."Deep breath, my sweet," Damien rumbled softly, his voice a low, reassuring anchor amidst her panic.Avery swallowed hard, looking up at him. "Damien... what do you plan on doing at this dinner? Knowing my father, he's going to use t

The morning sun filtered brightly through the tinted windows of the Maybach as it swept out of Manhattan.Avery sat back in the soft leather seat, looking absolutely radiant. She was dressed in a soft, cream-colored knitted sweater dress and tailored coat, her dark curls bouncing slightly with every movement. A genuinely bright, beautiful smile played on her lips. For the first time in years, the crushing weight on her chest was gone.Beside her, Damien sat with a posture that was unusually rigid. He adjusted the cuffs of his tailored suit jacket, his hand resting tightly on his silver-tipped cane.Avery glanced over at him, a soft, teasing smirk forming on her face. "Are you... nervous, Damien?"Damien cleared his throat smoothly, leaning back into the leather seat and putting on his impenetrable corporate mask. "Nervous? I am a CEO who manages multi-billion-dollar acquisitions, my sweet. I do not get nervous over social calls."Avery let out a sweet, musical laugh, leaning over to g